Abide: Pathways for Connection

Pathways matter! But the destination matters most! What’s more important at Van Buren State Park? Climbing over the dune on the pavilion path or getting to the beach? Is it more important to take the paved sidewalk or to reach those Lake Michigan waves? I’ve never met anyone at Van Buren who said they came for the path. No! They take the path that suits them best to reach the destination.

The same principle applies to abiding. While there are many pathways for connecting…the important thing is the destination: JESUS! Over the next nine weeks of summer, we will be going through a sermon series about different ways to abide. It’s called “Abide: Pathways for Connection.” I pray this series gives you some practical ways to more powerfully and consistently connect with your source of life, love, joy, peace, and purpose: Jesus Christ. He is the one who said: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9, ESV).

As we explore these pathways, keep in mind that they can never replace the basic Christian practices. There’s nothing that could ever replace belief, confession, repentance, Bible reading, prayer, worship, service, and sharing your faith. These basic Christian practices can be enhanced by the pathway methods, but never replaced. You’d never go for a long, hot day at the beach without water and justify that decision based on which pathway you took to the shore! The same is true spiritually: you may find you love the caregiving pathway for connecting with Jesus (à la Mother Teresa), but you should never neglect personal prayer and Bible reading. I think Mother Teresa would wholeheartedly agree!

This summer will offer you a time to reflect on which pathways come most naturally for you. You’ll also be challenged to expand your horizons into pathways less familiar, so you can be a balanced abider. Your investment in understanding and practicing multiple ways of connecting with Jesus will prepare you for a multifaceted, lifelong practice of abiding. There was a season of life when I never took the paved sidewalk to the beach at Van Buren. I wanted the adventure of climbing over the dune. That pathway worked best for my stage of life and goals at the time. Later in life, when I was toting diaper bags, floaties, goldfish crackers, and toddlers, the sidewalk became much more desirable. The same principle applies to our spiritual life. What pathways suit your current season of life? What pathways do you need to cultivate to diversify how you relate to God?

Whatever pathway(s) you choose, I’ll see you at the destination: Jesus!

Hung Between

As we wind down our ABIDE sermon series, John’s purpose for writing his book (to inspire belief in his readers – John 20:31) is standing out to me. Particularly the raw reality that as Jesus hung on the cross, he hung between belief and unbelief. He had a thief on either side of him: one believed, one ridiculed. I feel John’s intent surge to the forefront as he poses what continues to hang in the balance: will you be a sinner who receives Jesus or a sinner who rejects him? Answering that question is of utmost importance; therefore, John penned a most compelling account of Jesus' life and ministry that inspires everyone to believe.

Given John’s focus to move his readers to belief in Jesus, let’s look at many of the profound things he had to say about belief throughout his book:

To those who believe, an extraordinary right is given.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent… but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

God’s wrath is removed from those who believe.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)

Those who believe cross over from death to eternal life.
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Belief in Jesus is doing the work of God. 
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

True believers hold to Jesus’ teaching.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Some who believe are afraid to say so, fearing they may lose praise from men.
…many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)

What a beautiful belief compilation! When we believe in Jesus we become his child, God’s wrath is removed from us, and we are given eternal life. Belief in Jesus is how we do the work of God as we hold to his teachings and care more about pleasing God than men. In response to such glorious Scripture, let us solidify devotion to belief in Jesus and extend this vital reality to others like John did for us.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

“What are you up to? Do you want spaghetti?” 

It was a gloomy day after a prayer meeting at the Vine Building downtown, where Chloe invited me upstairs. Since I was new to the young adult community, I sensed this was her way of being intentional about including the outsider. And being a young guy in college, I obviously didn’t turn down free food. 

From across the island in the middle of the teal kitchen, I answered the usual “get to know you” questions while Chloe cut up bell peppers to fill out the red sauce simmering on the stove. But the course of my life was permanently altered when she told me about her day at work. 

Chloe’s coworker at the boutique had casually vented about her dysfunctional marriage during their shift. I remember the way Chloe stopped in the middle of her story to scan the ceiling while emotions unfurled on her face. She was troubled by her coworker’s heartache. Deeply troubled. She was moved to pray and to imagine a better life for her. And while she slid the peppers off the cutting board into the saucepan, I caught a glimpse of sincerity and selflessness that I had never seen before. It struck me. 

Her problems are SO different from mine, I thought. As someone at the beginning of his discipleship journey, my main concerns were about chasing miracles, paying adult bills, and trying to quit porn. Why does she care this much about a stranger? How did she get to be so compassionate? Her concern, clearly absorbed during time spent with Jesus, was so impressive, the impact left me reeling for years. 

This simple-but-groundbreaking moment highlighted the power of vulnerability when it comes to being a "witness". An obscure little letter in your Bible called Philemon offers a similar, vulnerable insight into the life of a Jesus follower. In it, Paul entreats Philemon to receive his runaway slave like a missing son. Paul shares his newfound love for the former slave, inviting the reader to think something like, “Wow, Paul’s problems are so different from mine. How did he become so redemptive?” And as witnesses of Paul’s sincerity, of the gospel in action, we can absorb a new vision of a life transformed by the love of Jesus. It’s worth a read.

It’s certainly appropriate sometimes to prepare a little speech for an opportunity to share the gospel. But vulnerability is potent. Let’s not discount the power of inviting an outsider to witness your day at work over a bowl of homemade spaghetti sauce. Without a doubt, I still want to be as sensitive and generous as Chloe when I grow up.

(Thanks Chloe!)

Unity

Our world is full of competition. We compete in sports to see who is the reigning champion. There’s competition in schools for all kinds of things, including grades. In the workplace, people compete for jobs. Restaurants compete for customers. Let’s not talk about competitiveness in politics. It seems like it’s all around us, and it’s easy to get caught up in it. 

When does healthy competition become division? We live in a world where it seems like divisiveness reigns. Just watch the news or check out social media, and you'll see lots of examples of division. 

Although healthy competition can be good and even help people excel, the one place where there should not be division or even any competition is the church. Not just the local church, but all the believers together that make up the whole church. That’s the one that Jesus is coming back for.

Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

God’s people, Christians, have been called to unity. We are to be unified so the world can see God’s love through it. Our unity stands out in a world that is full of division and competition. 

How can we have unity with other Christians? Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:2-3: “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Being patient with others isn’t easy. Neither is forgiving those who offend you. However, Jesus says that those who follow him will be like him. He is our role model, and we need to do as he instructed us to do: Be one with one another as he is with the Father. 
I encourage you to ask yourself if you are showing God’s love to the world by your unity with him and his church. Are you doing your part to be unified with other believers?

“GO, MAKE DISCIPLES!”

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations …” (Matt. 28:18). Jesus commissioned not only the eleven disciples, but all disciples over time. Additionally, he was commissioning the Church, as those eleven represented the whole of the Church.

The Great Commission isn’t an individual endeavor, it requires a team. The local church is each Christian’s team in pursuit of this goal. The world is bound and determined to go to hell, and we are the defensive line to obstruct them and intercept as many as possible to turn them around to life, scoring another soul for Jesus! 

Our church is extremely supportive of missions. Decades ago, we raised funds to install electricity and water in an Ugandan village. They called it “Kalamazoo Light & Water!” We have sent a lot of money and many missionaries. It's part of the DNA of New Day. 

This summer, a New Day team will minister at a Harvest Alliance (H.A.) church in England. Then we’ll travel to Izmir, Turkey, and spend four days ministering to a church and the faithful saints in that Muslim nation. Churches around the world stepped up in prayer and support when the former pastor of this church was imprisoned for his faith. But with his release in 2018, the memory and the support quickly faded. New Day has continued to support this church over the years, including sending me numerous times, and now sending another team. 

When the team returns, New Day is sending me onward to teach for a month in Kenya. All of the students are impoverished, and a third have spent their entire lives in a refugee camp, having fled war 30 years ago as children. This school’s degree will enable them to break the cycle of poverty. Concurrently, I’ll teach a School of Missions & Ministry for Europeans. While in Kenya, I’ll work with another H.A. ministry doing tremendous work helping kids in the juvenile detention system and returning wrongfully incarcerated children to their families. Finally, on the return trip, I will teach at another School of Missions & Ministry in Madrid, Spain. 

With this, and all the other missions, New Day is excelling at fulfilling the Great Commission. This is a major “WIN” for our church, and each member – not merely for us who are going, but for the team that enables us to “GO, MAKE DISCIPLES!”

* For more information, visit www.cameronwright.org

The Coronation of our Savior King

We worship a creative and surprising God! His love for unexpected beauty shows up throughout creation. We see it in the strange and beautiful animals, birds, and fish. We see it through his choice to use the ignored and unexpected for his purposes (Moses, David, Ruth, and Rahab come to mind). In retrospect, it’s no wonder that when he chose to clothe himself in humanity, he became the son of a carpenter in an out-of-the-way, good-for-nothing village called Nazareth. God likes to achieve miraculous things in unexpected ways!

The same is true for the crucifixion and resurrection! So miraculous! So unexpected! The Word from the beginning, now in human flesh, was falsely convicted, mocked, beaten, and executed on a Roman cross?!? We often spend Good Friday focused on the suffering Jesus endured, putting ourselves in the place of his shell-shocked disciples, or grieving his painful death. These are appropriate. They help us take in the reality and gravity of it all. We don’t want to take it for granted. However, would you consider another way of looking at the cross this year?

Although the disciples had to sort it all out later, we know the rest of the story. We have the New Testament to put the pieces together. We look back at Jesus’ suffering through the lens of resurrection. When we see it from that perspective, the unexpected beauty of Christ appears victorious! Our Savior King’s coronation occurred on a cross!

At the cross, Jesus took the eternal throne,
though it looked like those enthroned convicted him.
At the cross, Jesus broke the curse,
though it looked like the curse was breaking him.
At the cross, Jesus defeated evil,
though it looked like evil was defeating him.
At the cross, Jesus gave eternal life to sinful man,
though it looked like sinful man was killing him.

The Gospels carefully display tons of royal imagery in the crucifixion account. Palace, robe, staff, crown, procession, attendants, homage, and the sign that says it all: “The King of the Jews.” Although most of the royal treatment given to Jesus mocked him, the imagery remains. And now, looking back through the resurrection, we see how truly royal he is!

At the cross, Jesus takes his throne! Rising from the grave, he validates his rule and reign forevermore! In Jesus’ unexpected death: “Shame is transformed into glory, foolishness into wisdom, and humiliation into exaltation. The cross is the throne from which Christ rules the world” (Jeremy Treat). And the resurrection seals it in power! 

Where, O death, is your victory? 
Where, O death, is your sting?
For God himself upon the tree.
Is crowned forever, Savior King!

Wrestle with the Father

In Genesis 32, Jacob is stressed. For most of his life, he’s fled from his brother Esau who, after Jacob stole the firstborn’s blessing, has wanted to kill him. This has haunted Jacob (even his name means “supplanter”), but in chapter 32, he and God have had enough. The Lord told him to “return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good” (Gen. 32:9), and now, after sending his family across the river Jabbok where he and Esau plan to reunite, Jacob stands at the river’s edge, alone in the night.

Just before this, Jacob cried out to God in a desperate prayer: “God, I’m terrified. I don’t know what’s going to happen, Esau could kill me, my wives, and my children. I know I haven’t been a good man, I don’t deserve any blessing, but please, deliver me. You promised to bless me after all, please follow through.” (paraphrase of Gen. 32:9-12). He’s following what God told him to do, but that happens to mean confronting his past; the thing that’s held him back his whole life. It's overwhelming (rightfully so).

In verse 24, the story takes a wild shift. It’s revealed that Jacob, though he was alone, was also not alone. A “Man” (revealed to be God) appears, and the two of them wrestle all night until dawn, when the God-Man supernaturally pops Jacob’s hip out of place. In this moment Jacob demands a blessing, and God obliges, but in an unexpected way.

God’s blessing isn’t some power or something, but a deliverance (exactly what Jacob prayed for earlier)—except it’s not from Esau, it’s from Jacob’s own name, and the burden it bears. Rather than “Jacob the Supplanter,” God declares he shall now be known as Israel, for he has “striven with God and with men, and has prevailed” (v. 28).

When we come up against struggles in our own lives that trigger the wounds of our past, let’s learn from Jacob not to flee or numb ourselves from what it brings up in us, but to face that internal turmoil with God, to be open to wrestling through these struggles with Him. It may be hard, it may hurt (Jacob had a limp the rest of his days), but through that confrontation, the Father wants to bring redemption & transformative liberation. A new name, if you will.

So it begs the question: when the turmoil gets real, will you wrestle with Him?

Pray Without Ceasing

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39 NIV). 

Jesus interrupted this ceremony at the pinnacle of the celebration. He turned the focus from the priest who, tradition says, was pouring water from the stream of Siloah, which flowed under the Temple Mount onto the altar as a thanksgiving offering, and directed all attention upon Himself. 

This act would have been irreverent, heretical, and crazy, if it hadn’t been true. Jesus was claiming that He alone was the source of life and salvation. No wonder the Jewish leaders were seeking to crucify Him! That ancient ceremony has ceased, but billions of people over the years and to this day come to Jesus to receive the living water of the Holy Spirit. 

Since I was saved and filled with the Spirit, I have spoken aloud in tongues. I was taught early on that one should pray daily in tongues. For me it is life-giving, as essential as drinking water. Recently I’ve begun praying in tongues aloud in public. I’m never disrespectful, and I'm not loud. People talk on their phones in public, so I talk to God in public, in English and in my spiritual language. When I’ve shared this with other believers, they think I’m kidding, but it’s true. Why not? I have found that it helps change the spiritual atmosphere when I pray aloud. I carry on a continual conversation as I walk through stores, drive, or do errands. I need all the prayer I can get.

If we really believe that the Holy Spirit, and particularly speaking in tongues, is the living water Jesus promised (see Acts 2), then we and those around us need all that God will give. Think of it this way: the Holy Spirit is an unlimited well of life, but we are the valve that controls the flow. I choose to let the river flow. And I’ve found it is helpful in keeping my mind and body focused on Jesus. I encourage you to give it a try! “Pray without ceasing!”(1 Thes. 5:17).

Who Influences You?

I spent a glorious week with my three-year-old grandson, Max. Three-year-olds are so interesting. They are little mimics and repeat back to you things you say and even things you wished they hadn’t heard. I had to be careful of what I said even when he wasn’t listening to me. He looks up to me and allows my words to influence him. 

Numbers 11:4 says, “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ’If only we had meat to eat!’” I did some digging and the “rabble” among them was most likely Egyptians or other foreigners that joined the Israelites out of Egypt. Why would they listen to these people? The Israelites had seen God perform miracles, exempt them from the plagues, free them from slavery, plunder the Egyptians, part the Red Sea, and provide food and water in the desert for them.

The Israelites allowed others to influence them. They were the chosen people, delivered and set apart. Now they are allowing others to tell them what they deserve or should have. Oh, how quick they were to listen to others and stop trusting in God. 

What about you? Do you allow what you see, read, or listen to influence you to live your life in a way that is opposed to what God tells us to do? The Bible has a lot to say about how we are to live our lives. 

How we should talk: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

How we should live: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Spend time with God and in His word and allow the Holy Spirit to be the one that influences you!

Hard Rock Cafe

"No, I can't think of anything, but thank you," is the most common response I get whenever I directly ask someone, "is there anything you need prayer for?" While it often comes up during street ministry, I actually hear it most from people in church, especially when there's no immediate health or relationship crisis.

Why is that? Why is it that those who complain about their jobs on Monday, or their family during the holidays, or their back pain in the morning, or how aimless they feel at night, can't think of something to bring to the Lord in prayer? Why don’t we connect the dots between our need and God’s providence? 

 Here's the biggest reason for this: We're in the habit of meeting our own needs.

During Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert, Satan tempted him with the strangest thing: "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread" (Matthew 4:3). Jesus was hungry and the devil tempted him to feed himself with limestone? “Meet your need! Eat these rocks.” Weird, right?

I finally understood the devil’s tactics after God showed me the “rocks” in my own life: cheap sex, endless video games, school, job-chasing, worship music, Instagram, steak dinners. All of these things were “good enough" to numb my real hunger for aliveness. I didn't need anything from God because, in theory, I had everything covered. Since I turned those things into breakfast, I felt too "full" to ask for anything. And as it turns out, there's no room for blessing when your belly is stuffed with stones!

Jesus' response to the devil's temptation is profound and helpful. He replied, "It is written, man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mat. 4:4). Bread, the things we supply for ourselves (even good things), can't make us alive. According to Jesus, being filled with His Word by thinking about it, acting on it, and living by it, provides the aliveness that we crave.

If you’re in the habit of eating lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, the solution is to learn how to feast on God's word. He has something to say about work, family, pains, purpose, and entertainment. So as the Lord leads, let Him become the one who meets your need by tuning in to His word. One by one, you can safely surrender the stones in your pantry to make room for the abundant life that only God can supply. 

Then the next time someone asks, "What do you need prayer for?" you'll have a long list of rocks that you're ready to replace with whatever the Lord sets on the table.

New Day Vine Ministry Center Update

Forty-four years ago, I stepped into a small church on Locust Street. I’d become a Christian that summer, and when I returned to WMU, finding a church was a top priority. I visited several churches but had yet to find one as passionately alive as the Mexican church I attended in Lansing. While at a church on campus, I expressed to another student how I found the service lacking passion and intensity. A friend of hers attended a church she thought I’d like and gave me directions to it.

That was the Redemption Center, now called New Day. It met at 2 PM in a small building on Locust Street (not New Day Vine, but the building next to it). The church was passionate and biblical and I quickly joined. We would often pray to get the larger laundromat next door, but soon moved to various locations before building our Nichols Road facility. About 30 years later, our prayers were answered. Sarah and Seth Gerber bought the old laundromat building to use the upstairs as income property and the downstairs as a young adult ministry center. The Gerbers and New Day raised a lot of money and invested a lot of work to completely renovate it. When the Gerbers moved to California, New Day purchased the building. The young adult group was replaced with a satellite church which prospered for several years. For a variety of reasons, during Covid, New Day Vine services ended and regrouped at our Nichols building.

The Vine Ministry Center is still being used for the Kingdom on a daily basis. Three different Recovery Group ministries use the building and are extremely grateful for the facility as it perfectly accommodates them. This is a very meaningful way New Day is meeting genuine needs in our community. Additionally, my office for New Day and for leading Harvest Alliance, our international network, is located there. Ministry literally is streamed from there around the world. The building is also often used for other smaller groups and special events. The upstairs functions as a residential facility for those involved in ministry and leadership development. It's incredibly rewarding to see the answer to prayers from 30 years ago being fulfilled.

I am deeply grateful for the vision of all who invested, and continue to invest, in enabling New Day to have a ministry center in the heart of our community. You never know how or when God will answer your prayers!

Abide: Peace & Plan

Our hearts reveal how much the ailments of the age affect us. We want a fulfilling life—but many of us are surviving, not thriving. We want a strong sense of purpose—but many of us feel confused, not clear. We want to engage with something of lasting meaning—but many of us feel insignificant, not important. We want to feel a deep sense of belonging–but many of us feel lonely, not loved.

Our culture peddles endless answers to these ailments. More information and “solutions” are at our fingertips than ever before, but it isn’t helping. As a society, we are more anxious, depressed, confused, and lonely than ever before. So where do we go from here?

We go to Jesus! He has compassion for us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Are you ready to come in out of the wind for a rest from it all? Those who come to Jesus find peace, but also a plan.

John 15:4,9,11 (ESV) — Abide in me, and I in you …  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love … These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The life you were created for can be yours in Jesus! The key is found in one simple word: Abide. Jesus calls himself the vine and means for us to be the branches. If we abide in him, as a branch remains connected to its vine, his life will flow through our veins! 

Sounds great doesn’t it? For “abide” to move from an inspiring idea to a way of life, we need to take action. Have you ever driven by vineyards and noticed how the grapevines stand in identical rows? Why is that? The answer is: a trellis. The job of a trellis is simple: bear the weight of the grapevine so it can grow and bear the most fruit possible.

Our spiritual life needs a trellis too. If you want to burst with life and joy, you need a support structure to bear the weight of that fruitfulness. This comes in the form of daily habits. How will you create a little margin for connecting with Jesus each day this year? Will you start your day with prayer and Bible reading? Will you schedule a daily walk-and-talk time with the Lord? The options are limitless! Have fun! Be creative! May the joy of the Lord be in you, and may your joy be full!

Learn to Linger (originally posted in 2023)

I don’t know about you, but I find that in my day-to-day life, I struggle to make space to just sit and linger. For instance, if I’m going on a hike on a beautiful day, I often find myself not thinking about the nature at all but rather the work I need to do after that hike, or if I’m eating dinner I’m not actually focusing on enjoying the food, but rather paying attention to the video or show I’m watching at the same time. 

We, in today’s culture, are so captivated by constantly keeping ourselves entertained and updated on the next thing that we hardly ever take time to simply linger in a moment. The question is, however, if we do this so constantly in our day-to-day lives, how often do we simply move on from a moment that God wants us to linger in? 

Recently at one of our weekly Thursday night prayer meetings, God confronted this mentality in me. While we were praying, He revealed to me a picture of Him tending plants as they grew into trees, but He highlighted that despite the season (whether dry, wet, sunny, or snowy), the trees remained planted where they were in His presence, and He remained to tend to them. The trees didn’t need to get up and walk to another place to be filled up and grow. They knew to dig their roots deep and linger in His presence, and that He was enough for them. 

The psalmist in Psalm 1 writes about this in a very similar picture, declaring that He who delights in the law of the Lord is “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:2-3 ESV). By intentionally choosing to meditate on the Lord and His word, we are filled like a fruitful tree.

In a world so consumed by the fast-paced life, God is calling us to slow down and spend time with Him. To choose to set aside time to welcome His presence and continue to linger with Him after welcoming Him. He wants to reside with us, be present in the routine of our lives, and continuously pour His love into us as we learn to remain in His presence, rather than just doing it for two minutes each day and then moving on. 

So let us learn to not simply move on, but rather learn to linger. To rein in our minds and hearts to spend just a few more minutes with Him & Him alone. When we remain, our roots dig deeper and our branches stretch higher, we develop intimacy with Him, and He tends to us as the Good Gardener He is.

The Power of Testimony

“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, ‘It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.’” (Revelation 12:10-11 NLT)

We know we are saved by Jesus' sacrifice. Believing this, and committing our lives to follow Jesus, is what makes us Christians. In this passage we see an additional component of salvation—our testimony. Those who overcame the accuser, the devil, did so by the “blood of the Lamb AND by their testimony.” 

In Greek, “testimony” means: evidence given, record, or report. It's the evidence in our lives of the power of the blood of the Lamb that enables us to overcome the devil. The record and report of overcoming temptation, doubt, fear, and the accusations of the devil is our side of the salvation story. 

“He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:2). This is true, but those who do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice, reject his Lordship, and refuse the gift of salvation do not benefit from his sacrifice. So there are two parts of salvation, God’s part and our part. God’s done his part; Jesus “died once to break the power of sin” (Romans 6:10). In doing so, he accomplished all that was needed for our salvation. Accepting the gift does not add to the work of the cross. The cross was sufficient; nothing can be added. But we need to accept it, and there needs to be evidence in our lives that demonstrates Jesus is our Lord. 

That evidence is our testimony. Not only our salvation story, but every circumstance that demonstrates Jesus is our Lord. So what is your testimony for today? What is your testimony for this past week or month? What’s the standout testimony for 2024? Let’s share our testimonies as a way to openly display Christ’s defeat of the accuser and celebrate our victory!

Wonder

Have you seen the wonder in a child's eyes as they behold the Christmas tree light up a dark room? Or when they see all the houses lit up at night? Do you have things that fill you with wonder?

It seems that as we grow older, we lose some of our wonder. We learn more about the world and our surroundings, and things that once amazed us become commonplace. The things that caused our awe and wonder as a child at Christmas dim and get replaced by our busyness. 

I want to encourage you to take the time to stop and consider the wonder of the first Christmas. It had been 400 years since the Old Testament prophets spoke of the Messiah. Generations came and went waiting for this hope to be fulfilled.

And then, one dark night, Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, and “the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:6-7 NIV).

An angel appeared to shepherds nearby and they were filled with wonder and awe: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:13-16 NIV).

Then there were the wise men: “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11 NIV).

I pray that you too can rediscover the awe and wonder of what it means for Jesus to come into the world as a human baby, live a sinless life, die on the cross for our forgiveness, and rise into new life for you and me. 

Let us shine with the love Jesus has for us so that others can discover the wonder of Christmas.

2025 Theme

Each year we seek the Lord to highlight the theme that He would have our church focus on for the next year. Bill and I, along with other New Day leaders, spent focused time praying into God’s direction and heart for our church. I am excited to share with you the theme God revealed to us for 2025 through that prayer time. Drum roll please…..It’s….. 

ABIDE

This theme perfectly follows our year on being ROOTED. In 2024, we focused on cultivating strong roots in Jesus so that we can stand firm when the storms of life blow. We know that strong, healthy roots are a necessary component for a tree to grow and bear fruit. The Bible teaches in John 15 that our Heavenly Father causes fruitfulness in our lives, but our part is to abide in Jesus. Jesus says:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

Abide in Jesus is what we will intentionally do in 2025. Our sermon series, church events, and even the pace that we move as a church will be guided by this aim. Psalm 91:1 teaches us that when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we will be lodging in the shade of the Almighty. Wow! That’s a beautiful picture of what abiding looks like!  

To start off 2025 solidly in this vein, we are going to host one week of prayer and fasting with nightly services for prayer and worship. This special week will span from Sunday, January 5 through Saturday, January 11. It will be a unique and special time for our congregation to consecrate the new year to the Lord in a very tangible way. I believe He will meet with us mightily and we will see much growth and fruit as a result of this week. 

I encourage you to begin praying into this theme now. Doing so will position your heart, mind, and spirit to be ready when the new year arrives. Bless you all, precious church. It is such a wonderful adventure following the Lord together. We are grateful and expectant for what God will do in 2025 as we press into this theme together.

Identity

Companies appeal to identity to sell you stuff. Candidates tailor messaging based on their notion of who you are. People don’t call it a “sex life” anymore, they call it “sexual identity.” Being L, G, B, T, Q, or + in our culture functions as an identity marker, not just an expression of gender or sexuality. Identity is woven into nearly every part of our society today.

Carl Trueman calls our collective understanding the “social imaginary” in his book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. The twenty-first-century American social imaginary assumes all sorts of things about identity. The common belief is that you look inside yourself, decide who you are or what you want to be, and then express that identity to the world. So much of our social interaction then gets funneled into one of two categories: affirmation or rejection. No wonder everyone’s so angry with each other. We no longer discuss and debate. We accept or reject each other.

Jesus calls you higher! Just as he took the question about taxes higher in Matthew chapter 22 – he embraced neither the framework nor the fight set before him. Instead, when he said: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Matt. 22:21, NIV), he invited his hearers to transcend their social imagination.

Jesus offers that same invitation today. Will you accept the culture’s framework? Or will you embrace a heavenly perspective? God personally bestows identity. You bear his very image (Gen. 1:26-28). Christians: you are born of God (John 1:12-13), he chose and adopted you (Gal. 4:4-7), and he chooses to dwell in you as his living temple (1 Cor. 3:16).

Christian sexual morality is not rooted in rules! Our sexual ethic stems from our identity! That’s why the Bible says to flee sexual immorality. Not because it’s a religious rule – because you are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:18-20). Because Jesus suffered and died to make it so! You are forgiven, cleansed, and made into a holy dwelling for the Lord. What a blessing! What an honor to make it a dwelling worthy of his presence! What amazing grace that we can be restored when we fail to do so!

As we consider identity and engage in our culture, let’s be voices that transcend. Let’s join Jesus by inviting our neighbors higher. Every person you meet beautifully bears the image of God. Let’s build bridges of lovingkindness that lead them back to him.

Overcoming Chaos

Life is chaotic. Not only in the sense that things get hectic at times, but more so that sometimes circumstances are just plain difficult. When we try our best but hardships get the better of us, what are we meant to do? When chaos raises its head, what can we do?

Joseph was a man who battled against the tides of chaos his whole life. Many of you are likely familiar with his story, but here’s a quick recap: Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers when he was young. While a slave, he was falsely accused of sleeping with his master’s wife & was thrown into prison. In prison, he interpreted the dreams of prisoners, was forgotten for 2 years by one who was freed, only then to be asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, after which he was placed in authority over all Egypt, allowing him to save the lives of the very brothers who sold him into slavery.

It’s so easy to see how chaos roared against Joseph during each step of his journey, however Joseph’s response to this chaos is what truly hits home: in every situation, he was faithful with what was given to him, despite the chaos.

Forced into slavery? He was faithful & honoring in his responsibilities. Trapped in prison? Rather than shutting down, he offered comfort & interpretations to those struggling. When Pharaoh, the leader of the nation that had afflicted Joseph for years, asked for help with a dream, he humbly accepted and shared God’s interpretation.

Joseph could’ve hardened his heart & cursed his lot in life many times, but rather than giving into chaos, he submitted to the Lord and chose to bless those around him rather than curse them, and from this, the Lord blessed him. 

This is what God is calling us to when we experience hardship, turmoil, letdowns, & inconvenience. Are we embittering ourselves, or showing faithfulness & honor? My encouragement to you in this season is the principle Joseph lived by: when the tides of chaos rise against you, press into the Father.

In doing so, you live as a citizen of Heaven rather than of the world, welcoming God into the wilderness to strengthen & nurture you within your hardship. As Joseph himself said “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Gen 42:52 ESV) 

Will you let Him do the same for you?

Perfect Peace in Perilous Times

Isaiah 26:1-21: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

In this election season we once again sense the fear, strife, accusation, and contention that exists. In addition to the political and social battles in our nation, the world is at war in many places. Our hearts grieve the mass suffering caused by warfare in and around Israel. Once again the significance of that historic region and the battle for that land is in the world’s headlines. 

War in Ukraine continues, though media attention has waned. War is in Africa. Heidi Baker of IRIS Ministries, who lives in Mozambique, was the keynote speaker at our Harvest Alliance UK Gathering. Due to war, IRIS had to move all their schools elsewhere. Yet Rolland and Heidi continue to live in that war-torn, poverty-stricken place. 

In Isaiah 26, the prophet is confronting God’s people for lack of faithfulness and the resulting consequences, and comforting them with the promise of God’s deliverance. The promise of “perfect peace” is spoken to a people who are facing punishment and political upheaval. Yet those who “trust in the Lord” are steadfast in mind. Their thoughts are not consumed with anxiety and dread, but rather the strength and promises of their mighty God. 

This is the state where all Christ-followers should remain. “The Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.” The Lord alone is the Rock on which we must place our trust. None other can take His place. We are not to look to anything or anyone else to provide the solid ground upon which we must stand. 

This is true for our thoughts, emotions, aspirations, political convictions, financial hopes, and relationships with others. In all these areas we should declare our trust in the Lord. This doesn’t mean that we disengage from the political and social issues of our day. We absolutely should lead in those arenas. But we must do it from the steadfast footing of standing upon the eternal Rock — Jesus Christ the Lord of all.

How Am I the Bad Guy?

You know that moment when someone says something crazy and time freezes while you figure out how to respond?

Once upon a time, I missed a phone call. It buzzed in my pocket while I was at work, I wasn’t able to pick up, and I forgot to return the call that afternoon. Thankfully it wasn’t an emergency, but it was an honest little blunder on my part. These things happen, right?

They followed up with me right before church started the next Sunday. I said offhandedly, “Sorry I missed your call, I was pretty busy,” which was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Wasn’t it? We finished our business, exchanged pleasant chit chat and went into worship. All good, right?...Right!?

Wrong. 

“When you said you didn’t have time for my call, it really hurt my feelings. I felt like I wasn’t important to you,” they said tearfully, having pulled me aside after service. I know exactly where I was standing in the foyer of the church because this is the moment time literally stopped while I scrambled to respond.
Here’s the (unflattering) transcript of my inner dialogue:
Wait, your feelings are hurt because I was busy? Should my schedule revolve around you? Am I supposed to be glued to my phone? Did I miss something? I was at work, like a normal person. I have a life! You’re being unreasonable.
…but it actually doesn’t matter. Jesus said, “If your brother has something against you…” yada yada. I don’t get to decide whether it’s legit or not. Right now, I’m the bad guy! Between them and me, Jesus will take their side, I know it. I can either correct or I can apologize…Hmm. Better apologize. How Christlike of me.
But I didn’t do anything wrong! Ughh!
…but I really hurt them. Okay, fine. Looks like I have to just swallow it this time.

After 3 eternal seconds, I said, with as much sincerity as I could manage, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, and it was certainly not my intention to communicate that you’re not important. You are important. Please forgive me!” We hugged and made up (and had a quick chat about my availability), but oh man was my ego bruised.

Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:23-24, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you...first be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” He made it your responsibility to proactively reconcile when you’re the bad guy in someone else’s story. Whether it seems reasonable or not, He requires us to own our failures, apologize, and repent before the worship music starts.